Mercedes-Benz reveals freshened 2014 E-Class Coupe and Convertible

The slightly reworked exterior designs take many of the cues introduced on the sedan, but the coupe and cabriolet carry over one of the previous E-Class' wide, pontoon-like rear haunches. Fortunately, the rest of the design makes it much easier to overlook this awkward element, as the refreshed front end has an eye-catching, concept-like styling with the new single-piece headlights and the aggressive fascia. Not wanting to totally abandon the quad-headlight look that dates back to the 1990s, the new front end has unique LED running lights that visually split the headlights in two helping to create a recognizable yet distinctive face. New LED taillights and a reshaped rear fascia finish off the visual improvements on these cars.

Inside, designers made equally modest yet effective changes by tweaking the design of the steering wheel and incorporating Direct Select lever rather than using the console-mounted shift lever on the previous car. Mercedes has made this update on many of its newest models, and it's pretty remarkable how moving the gear selector can make such a difference on an interior. For the Cabriolet, the acoustic soft top helps ensure a quiet interior with the top up, and the car also features front and rear wind deflectors that automatically deploy to keep cabin noise at a manageable level with the top down. Some of the new technology in the 2014 E-Class includes the Stereo Multi-Purpose Camera, Active Parking Assist and a 360-degree camera for a bird's-eye view when parking.

While the sedan will get a four-cylinder engine, an AMG model and even a new hybrid model, the coupe and cabriolet will carry over their powertrains and model designations from 2013, which include the E350 and E550; the E350 Coupe is still available with the 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, too.

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